Knicks well aware of Joel Embiid challenge that awaits them in Round 1
NY Post
Joel Embiid might not be fully back to his customary level of dominance following January knee surgery, but the Knicks certainly aren’t entertaining that sort of thinking as they prepare for their first-round playoff matchup with the 76ers.
The reigning league MVP is ineligible to be a repeat winner for that award because he appeared in only 39 games in the regular season, but the Sixers improved their winning percentage to .800 (32-8) with Embiid in the lineup — versus 16-27 without him — in 2023-24 following Wednesday’s play-in victory over the Heat.
That includes a 6-0 record with the seven-time All-Star center in the lineup since his return following a two-month absence — and nine straight wins overall.
“You prepare for MVP Joel,” Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein said after practice Thursday in Tarrytown. “You kind of see he’s going through stuff, but at the end of the day, it’s kind of what makes athletes special, we can get through a lot.
“Especially the athletes in the NBA, who can go through a lot of pain and still play. We’re ready for whatever. We’re prepared, and it’s just gonna be a team effort with Joel.”
Hartenstein cited Jimmy Butler as another example; the Miami star played through a first-quarter injury Wednesday that is expected to keep him out for multiple weeks, according to reports, including the Heat’s elimination play-in game against the Bulls for the No. 8 postseason seed.
LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic was the last starter introduced by the Los Angeles Lakers, an honor normally reserved for LeBron James.
TAMPA — The Yankees player development complex was busy on Monday, with new faces like Max Fried, Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt working out among the returning crop like Aaron Judge, Anthony Volpe and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Saquon Barkley’s party for his 28th birthday was a Giants reunion with his former teammates, Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard.
The Hornets are seemingly not going down without a fight.
NEW ORLEANS — One of the biggest winners of Super Bowl 2025 hasn’t yet played a snap in the NFL.
After devouring film from the ugly defeat to the Celtics, Jalen Brunson believes the Knicks showed improvement — at least improvement from the low bar of the season opener — and saw evidence that his team can compete with the reigning champs.
It’s kind of funny if you think about it. For years, for decades — hell, for damn near half a century — it was the Yankees who would cause others in major league baseball to shake their heads, raise a fist, and make angry, bitter exclamations.
Once again, Kiké Hernández is back with the Dodgers.
Saquon Barkley was shirtless while shotgunning beers and pouring champagne in the mouths of Eagles staffers after Philadelphia destroyed the Chiefs in Super Bowl 2025 in New Orleans.
NEW ORLEANS — The Aaron Rodgers Era with the Jets apparently is over.
A win like Saturday night’s in Columbus should’ve sent the Rangers into the 4 Nations break on a high note, but this season has been anything but exuberant.
The Knicks were getting destroyed on the boards in the first half Saturday night, so Tom Thibodeau decided to go smaller after intermission.
If the Mavericks were hoping that Anthony Davis’ stellar play would help calm down the anger in Dallas over trading Luka Doncic, they’ll have to come up with another way to do that.